Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Joe Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

A man whose girlfriend died in a balcony fall from an 8th floor flat has denied pushing her when she tried to dump him, claiming instead that she chose to jump because he was not ready to get married.

Police are currently investigating whether it was suicide or murder when Ayse Ozgecan Usta, 28, fell from her 8th floor home on Binbasi Tahsin Street in the neighbourhood of Incivez in the north-western Turkish city of Zonguldak in the early hours of 5th February.

Usta was taken to Zonguldak Ataturk State Hospital by ambulance after emergency treatment at the scene, and although being admitted to intensive care, could not be saved by doctors.

Her boyfriend, identified as Bartu Can A., 32, who was at home during the incident, was arrested a short while later.

He claimed that his lover voluntarily decided to jump to her death over a row about whether or not they should get married, according to local media.

He has since been on home detention after saying he rushed over at the last minute and managed to hold on to her briefly, but then lost his grip and she fell to her death.

The dead woman’s father Kenan Usta, age not disclosed, and his family, who came from Ankara to get the body, could not hold back their tears in front of the morgue.

Kenan said he heard about his daughter’s death at 4am and that they came to Zonguldak immediately.

Stating that he had doubts whether the incident was a suicide or a murder, Kenan said: “A woman living downstairs gave a statement. She stated that she heard someone shout ‘I can’t hold anymore’.

“How come an adult man can’t hold a 55-kilogramme (121 pound) woman?”

He added: “They probably argued. She wanted to leave and they fought when he did not allow it. Time will tell whether he threw my daughter off the balcony or not.

“I just want to get rid of the doubts in my mind. And if this is a murder, I want the necessary punishment to be handed down. My daughter was so full of life. She was my dearest.”

While Ayse Ozgecan Usta’s body was buried in Ankara, home detention was ordered for Bartu Can A. after his statement was taken at the police station.

The investigation is ongoing.

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